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I'm so glad to see you getting connected to actual resources! Just wanted to add that when you apply for that Rapid Rehousing program, ask specifically about their timeline - some can move pretty quickly (30-60 days) while others still have waits. Also, if you haven't already, contact your kids' school district about McKinney-Vento Act protections. Even if you're not homeless yet, having that 60-day notice might qualify you for educational stability services, and school social workers sometimes know about family housing resources that other programs don't. Wishing you and your kids the best - you're being such a strong advocate for your family by exploring all these options now instead of waiting until the last minute.
This is such great advice about the McKinney-Vento Act! I had no idea schools had special protections for housing instability. As someone new to navigating these systems, it's amazing how many programs exist that you never hear about until you're in crisis. The timeline question for Rapid Rehousing is really smart too - I would have just assumed they were all the same. It's reassuring to see how this community comes together to share real, practical knowledge. Taylor, you're doing an incredible job advocating for your family, and I hope some of these resources work out quickly for you.
As someone who just went through a similar situation last year, I want to emphasize something that saved me: don't wait for the perfect solution to come through before exploring backup options. While you're applying for Rapid Rehousing and other programs, also look into extended stay motels that offer weekly rates - some accept vouchers from emergency assistance programs. It's not ideal, but it kept my family together and gave us a stable address while waiting for housing programs to process. Also, if you're in a larger county, check if they have a family navigation center - these are different from regular shelters and specifically designed to keep families together while connecting them to permanent housing. The waiting can be agonizing, but having multiple irons in the fire really helps your chances of avoiding homelessness altogether.
This is such valuable perspective from someone who's actually been through it! The extended stay motel suggestion is really practical - I never would have thought about asking if they accept emergency assistance vouchers. And the family navigation center sounds so much better than a regular shelter situation. @Taylor To, it sounds like you're already doing everything right by starting early and exploring multiple options. @Javier Torres, thank you for sharing what actually worked for you - it's so helpful to hear from people who've successfully navigated this system rather than just getting overwhelmed by all the bureaucracy. Did you find the family navigation center through 211 or was it something your county housing authority referred you to?
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This thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm a college student who just qualified for CalFresh and was completely overwhelmed trying to figure out online grocery ordering. The step-by-step troubleshooting here is better than any official help documentation I've found. I had no idea about the account settings requirement or the minimum order thresholds - those details make all the difference. What really stands out to me is how everyone shared multiple backup options instead of just focusing on one service. As someone new to all this, having Walmart, Amazon Fresh, Target/Shipt, and Instacart as alternatives gives me so much peace of mind. I'm definitely starting with a small test order this weekend using these tips. The timing advice about ordering during off-peak hours is something I never would have considered either. Thank you all for creating such a comprehensive guide - this community is amazing for actually helping people solve real problems!
Welcome to the community and congrats on getting CalFresh! Being a college student and navigating all this stuff can be really overwhelming, but you're in the right place for support. Your plan to start with a small test order is perfect - that's exactly what I did when I was new to EBT online ordering. One thing I'd add that might be helpful for your situation: a lot of these delivery services offer student discounts or free trials for their delivery fees, which can really help stretch your budget since you still need to pay delivery/service fees separately from your EBT benefits. Also, if you're living in dorms or shared housing, double-check that your address accepts grocery deliveries - some campus housing has specific delivery policies. The multiple backup options really are key because college schedules can be unpredictable and you want to know you can get groceries when you need them. Feel free to ask if you run into any issues with your first order - this community is super helpful with troubleshooting!
Welcome to the community! As someone who also navigated CalFresh as a college student, I totally get how overwhelming it can be at first. One additional tip that might help - if you're living near campus, check if any of the local grocery stores partner with these delivery services. Sometimes smaller chains that accept EBT in-store also work with Instacart or other platforms, and they might have better deals or less crowded systems than the big box stores. Also, keep your EBT customer service number handy in your phone - I learned that lesson the hard way when my card got temporarily locked during finals week! The community here is super supportive, so don't hesitate to post if you run into any snags with your first order.
This thread is absolutely incredible - I wish I had found this community sooner! I've been struggling with EBT online orders for months and getting nowhere with customer service. The detailed troubleshooting steps everyone shared here are pure gold, especially the account settings tip that seems to solve most issues. What really impresses me is how supportive everyone is and how you all took the time to share what actually worked from real experience, not just copy-paste help desk responses. I'm bookmarking this thread and definitely recommending this community to other people I know who are dealing with similar EBT online ordering frustrations. Having multiple service options (Walmart, Amazon Fresh, Target/Shipt, Instacart) and backup strategies makes such a difference. This is exactly the kind of practical help that people actually need - thank you all for creating such an amazing resource!
I'm so glad you found this thread helpful! I just discovered this community recently too and I'm amazed at how much practical, real-world knowledge everyone shares here. You're absolutely right about the quality of advice - it's such a relief to find solutions that actually work instead of generic customer service responses that don't address the specific quirks of EBT online ordering. The fact that so many people took the time to share their troubleshooting experiences and backup options really shows how supportive this community is. I've already learned more from reading through these comments than I did from hours of searching official help pages. Definitely planning to be more active here and hopefully contribute helpful info when I can. It's communities like this that make navigating these systems so much less stressful!
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I'm new to this community and this thread has been so informative! I'm actually in a very similar situation to the original poster - my CalFresh worker mentioned KEYS about a month ago but I had no idea what it was and was too overwhelmed to ask for details at the time. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly valuable. I'm currently facing a rent increase from $1,200 to $1,500 starting next month, and I've been really stressed about how to manage it while keeping up with my other expenses. It's such a relief to learn that KEYS won't impact my CalFresh benefits - I was genuinely worried that getting help with housing might somehow reduce my food assistance. The detailed information about the intake process, required documentation, and timelines has been so helpful. I'm planning to call them first thing Monday morning with all my paperwork ready. The tip about potentially using Claimyr if I can't get through is something I definitely want to try since I've had terrible luck reaching county offices lately. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their real experiences, both the successes and the frustrations. It makes such a difference to hear from people who have actually navigated this system rather than just reading official program descriptions that don't tell you what to expect. This community is amazing!
Welcome to the community! Your $300 rent increase is definitely significant and sounds like exactly the type of situation KEYS prevention services are designed to help with. It's smart that you're planning to call first thing Monday - from what others have shared, calling early in the day really does seem to make a difference in getting through. Since you mentioned being overwhelmed when your CalFresh worker first brought up KEYS, don't feel bad about that at all. These systems can be really confusing and it's totally normal to need time to process information, especially when you're dealing with financial stress. The fact that you're taking action now is what matters. One thing that might help when you call - have your current lease and any documentation about the rent increase ready to reference. From what I've read in other threads, they really want to see proof of the housing crisis you're facing. Your situation with the sudden $300 increase should definitely qualify you for consideration. Good luck with your call on Monday, and definitely don't hesitate to ask questions here if you need support navigating the process. This community has been such a great resource for people in similar situations!
I'm new to this community and just wanted to thank everyone for sharing such detailed information about KEYS! I'm in San Bernardino County and had never heard of this program until I found this thread. My landlord just gave me a 30-day notice because they're renovating my unit, and I've been panicking about finding a new place with the current rental market. Reading about everyone's experiences - especially knowing that KEYS won't affect CalFresh benefits and that they help with things like security deposits - gives me so much hope. I'm definitely going to call their office tomorrow morning with all my documentation ready. The tip about Claimyr is something I'm going to bookmark too, since I've been trying to reach various county offices for weeks with no success. It's incredible how much more helpful real community experiences are compared to official websites that don't tell you what the process is actually like. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space where people can share practical advice about navigating these systems. I'll make sure to update after I go through the process in case it helps others in similar situations!
Welcome to the community Lucas! Your situation with the 30-day notice for renovations sounds really stressful, but you're absolutely right to feel hopeful after reading everyone's experiences here. That type of no-fault displacement is exactly what KEYS prevention services are designed to help with. Since you're dealing with a tight timeline, definitely emphasize the 30-day notice when you call tomorrow. From what others have shared, these urgent displacement situations often get prioritized in their assessment process. Make sure to have that notice from your landlord ready as documentation when you call. The current rental market makes situations like yours even more challenging, but it sounds like KEYS really does help people navigate exactly these kinds of housing crises. The security deposit assistance could be crucial for helping you secure a new place quickly. Good luck with your call tomorrow morning, and please do update us on how it goes! Your experience will definitely help other community members who find themselves in similar situations. This community really thrives on people sharing their real experiences with these programs.
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This is such a helpful thread! I'm new to CalFresh and had no idea about these produce incentive programs. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the key things to remember are: 1) It's extra money on top of your regular benefits, 2) Can only be used for fresh fruits/vegetables, 3) Each location works differently (farmers markets vs grocery stores), and 4) You might need to ask specifically about it since not all cashiers know about the programs. Going to check if my local farmers market participates this weekend!
Welcome to the community! You've got a great summary there. One thing I'd add - when you check with your farmers market this weekend, ask them what their current match rate is since it can change based on funding. Some do dollar-for-dollar matching up to a certain amount, others do 50% match. Also, if they participate, they'll usually have signs posted or info at their main booth. Good luck and enjoy getting those extra fresh fruits and veggies for your family!
@Keisha Robinson That s'a perfect summary! I just wanted to add that if you re'shopping at grocery stores that participate, it s'worth downloading their app or signing up for their loyalty program first - like @Sofia Price mentioned with Mother s Market.'Some stores require that step before the produce incentives will work automatically at checkout. Also, keep your receipts! It s helpful'to track how much incentive you re getting'each month since there are usually monthly limits. Hope your farmers market visit goes well!
Just wanted to add something that might help with budgeting - I've been using CalFresh for about a year now and participate in Market Match at my local farmers market. One tip I learned the hard way: the produce incentive money usually expires at the end of each visit/transaction, so you can't save it up like your regular benefits. At farmers markets, if they give you $20 in wooden tokens, you need to spend those tokens that same day or you lose them. This is different from your regular CalFresh balance which rolls over month to month. So when planning your shopping, make sure you can actually use all the bonus produce money in one trip! Also, some markets have seasonal variations - mine does higher match rates during summer when local produce is abundant. Worth asking about!
Ethan Taylor
One more tip - if you're taking public transit, take a picture of your receipt with your phone as backup. My friend had her bus receipt rejected because it was too faded by the time she got to her interview (those thermal paper receipts fade quickly). Having a clear picture on her phone saved her from losing out on the reimbursement.
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Sean Doyle
•Smart idea! My printer is broken so I'll definitely take pictures of everything just in case.
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Connor O'Neill
Just wanted to add that some counties have online portals where you can download the travel reimbursement form ahead of time. I'm in Sacramento County and found it buried in their "Forms and Applications" section under CalFresh resources. It's worth checking your county's website first before calling - saved me from sitting on hold for hours! Also, if you're using rideshare like Uber or Lyft, keep your receipt from the app as proof. They accepted mine when I had to use it for my emergency interview last month.
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Zainab Ahmed
•That's really helpful about checking county websites first! I'm in a different county but I'll definitely look there before trying to call. The rideshare tip is good too - I was wondering if they'd accept those receipts since they're digital. Did you have to print out the Uber receipt or was showing it on your phone okay?
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